Shiro Masuyama is an artist who hides in a dark corner to observe popular aspects in life that are hardly ever noticed. His interests are directed to various common phenomena that generally do not matter much in our lives. The viewpoint his work adopts is usually quite simple: for example, he observes what people do when they find a coin by the roadside, or dwells on sleezy advertisement, peep shows and the like.

Though he studied architecture, Masuyama eventually turned to contemporary art, a system where he thought he fitted in well. Consequently or not, his works tend to be like a stage sets. He creates situations like traps, capturing people and watching their reactions. He also enjoys revealing the viewer that he’s been observed, creating a situation that remains in the viewer as a very vivid experience.

Shiro Musayama, born 1971 in Tokyo (Japan).

(Hiroko Tsuchida)